^ Defcrrpti0tt of Cteature??. 14^ 
CHAP. X VIII. 
Of the Cat. 
I N former times Cats were not fo tame as to live 
in Hoiifes, and be tamiliar with us as they are 
now ; for they ufed formerly to live only in Woods, 
and were exceeding cruel and venomous, making a 
prey of Foxes and Rabbets , &c. but yet doubtlefs 
their nature was the fame then as it is now; for 
God at the firft creation gave every creature thofe 
properties which afterwards it retained ; but yet 
I do not deny, but that about Helvetia there are 
wild Cats now, and, as Conradus Gefnir faith, are 
very good food; the Gat in former times was one 
of the n/££jftian Gods, as Diodorus Siculus telleth 
us, and Strabo in his 27 th. Book faith, that in the 
Reign of Tiberius there were above 7000 Romans 
(lain in for the killing of one Cat; but ws 
will let this pafs: a Cat is not much unlike a Lion in 
hispci?, teeth, and claws, but his ears are feme* , 
what rounderl the wild Cats moft commonly are 
grey, and arc almoft of the colour of ice; the tame 
C^fisof divers colours, but moft commonly are 
grey; Cats eyes fhine in a dark nighr, they can 
fee to get mice in the darkeft night ; thus the 
Hyena and the Bact have their fight the ftrongell: 
when it is dark, their eyes are obferved to be 
bigger and leflfer according to the change of the 
L 3 Moon; 
